Does anyone know what makes this film public domain? I can't find any concrete evidence to support a PD claim and using it online (youtube et al) always causes problems. Guess it's a trawl through the archive books...

The witches version of Hitchcock's Psycho in some ways...See how many similarities you can spot.
Christopher Lee adds greatly to a strong cast and the atmospheric story is delightfully told.
Highly recommended.

Youtube yanked this movie when I tried to upload. It's not in the Public Domain. Don't give these people a penny of money until they get their act together.

Great to see a Christopher Lee original. Deservedly a legend.

To the angry kid from Texas, you sound like you know virtually nothing about Christianity in the first place. Please keep your hate out of the reviews.

:):):):):):):):)

um, what was your point? none of your diatribe had sweet f.a. to do with this film. are you one of those guys who when the waitress brings em coffee, you start in immediately with "if it weren't for those commies....."

anyway, i hope it made you feel better and all.

oh yeah. and the film was awesome!

This movie is also available on DVD.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Horrors-Silver-Screen-Vanishes/dp/B000646720

Pretty good for the time, it was nice to watch atmospheric and not modern ott with blood and guts.
As others say good effort, moody and handled well Christopher Lee at his "starey eyed" best, which definately added a bit of class to the overall effect.

I believe in witchcraft about as much as I believe in gods, spooks, demons, and the boogieman under my bed and it never ceases to amaze me how people are to this day ultra stupidstitious believing in these things.
To many people take this rubbish seriously. As for the movie it was well done for a movie even if I don't buy one word if it. Shadow of a cross..at night..in the fog? Where did the light source come from? Shadows aren't shadows without light sources.
Nearly every corner where I live here in Texas has a church and these fools still think jebus is going to ride in from west Texas on a white horse someday to save them all from the "devil", but here there's a twist.. He'll be dressed as Clint Eastwood carrying a Smith and Wesson and instead of saying thee and thou it'll be "Go ahead punk, make my day!"
What a bunch of maroons..

I applaud the earnestness of the actors in this production. They gave it their all. I am sure the audiences were impressed at that time but we live in the modern age. England was known for this occupancy with witchcraft and black magic. I enjoyed the film and seeing old technology revealed as the progenitor of beliefs. Today we would whip out our cell phones and record these crazy hooded people and their wild actions then send the video to some website that airs the unbelievable.

Highly enjoyable film. However I feel compelled to add for the sake of historical accuracy that no witches were ever burned at the stake in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims preferred hanging or pressing.

The term "sleeper" could have been invented for this little horror gem. All but unnoticed at its U.S. debut, it didn't pickup a small following until it was released to TV in the mid-sixties. It is an incredibly atmospheric and well plotted tale of modern-day witchcraft and satanic sacrifice. The budget may be low, but the sets and how they are used are remarkable. As for the cast, Venetia Stevenson is pretty, blonde and innocent, but I think she might have skipped at least one acting class. (For some reason she is billed as Venetia Stephenson.) Not to worry, the rest of the cast is fine, including Patricia Jessel who is outstanding as the undying witch Elizabeth Selwyn. Once neglected, now with many fans, a digitally restored version is supposed to be available, but I haven't run across it. CAST NOTE: Venetia Stevenson is the daughter of British actress Anna Lee. "Horror Hotel" was the next to last film of Venetia's brief acting career. Anna Lee can be found here at the Archive in "King Solomon's Mines," "Non-Stop New York" and others.

This seems to be a typical horror film of its time. Let´s face it, the acting is rather wooden, the script contains lots of cliches and the story is quite slow to begin. Having said that, the atmosphere of the village was suitably creepy, and the film did get quite exciting towards the end. All in all, a good evenings entertainment.
This was the first time I have used DVDAuthorGUI to burn a DVD from an MPEG2 file, and I am pleased to report that it worked fine!

I love it!

What do you want to bet that the remake does use "overdone special effects to overpower the film"? *sighs*

I am surprised at how good this film really is. Although it contains a lot of cliches (unfriendly locals, fog and a mute servant) the dialogue was taut and understated, with Christopher Lee at his sinister best. I think it had a 1950s feel to it; not surprising given the early 60s production date.

I didn't feel the plot was overly predictable, although you could see some things coming a mile off. I think the film did a good job of helping me to suspend my disbelief, and that came as a surprise to me. I actually wanted to feel immersed in the plot, and that happened almost immediately.

This is perfect for an evening in with a glass or two of something, and the curtains closed. I really hope - as someone suggested below - that this will be remade: it deserves to be.

Lee has been great in everything he has done. There is nothing better than curling up on the couch with snacks and watching them.

anybody from the east coast remember Sat Morning "Creature Feature" with the 6 fingered had rising out of the swamp... I'm sure this gem must of scared the bejezus out of this then little girl. Thanks - I watched it again last nite and again - could not handle the nite time shadows.

My father was the executive producer for City of the Dead aka Horror Hotel. Needless to say I love it. I believe Horror Hotel is being remade next year.

Ive seen this film years and years ago, a boy in his younger days;care-free. Ive forgotten the title,the star cast- yes, even Christopher Lee(a Legend in my Book) but not the plot. ive looked, for years and eventually Found the Title on archive.org. For that I thank you. Now how do I get some serious Help with a few more Movie queries of the Sci-Fi nature.. any assistants, plz

saw the movie the first time when I was 9. And I remember how I felt when I went to bed this evening.Now I`m 26 and it thrill me anyway. They created a very good atmosphere with very low budget. This movie is a must see when you like the classical genre of fog and melodramatic acting.

you will want to visit Boston after watching this. It is very atmospheric and unpredictable. There is more suspense than violence, which makes for interesting film.

Christopher Lee and Patricia Jessel are perfect as ominous characters. The scenes with the witch burning at the stake are better than the most recent "The Crucible".

The shadows and cinematography are reminiscent of film-noir; you will enjoy thisfilm- it is something many people remember from the 60's; and the photography for that time clearly deserves high honors.

This was my first movie online and I enjoyed it very much! It was hard to pause the movie to run an errand.

This was a good movie for that era and I remember seeing it as a kid (I am 58) and it was scary, even then! I enjoyed it even more this 2nd time around.

rsherry

I remember this movie scaring the bejeezus out of me when I was around 8 years old,it was shown in the middle of the day!
I never knew the name of this particular movie,but this one,the FleshEaters,and some English movie about killer shrews where the really big scary movies of my youth.
IMD has a discussion comparing Horor Hotel and Psycho.There are similarities.Both have independent women who disappear that make up the first half of the film.The second half deals with the search for the women.
This movie still works on a certain level even 32 years later.

Moxey below, you wouldn't happen to be John Llewellyn Moxey would you?

Definatelty worth a watch for horror fans, not gory but what violence there is is put to good use. Built up something of a cult following back in the day from what I read.
Aside from an ill-judged moment of slapstick I find it hard to fault.

I agree with billbarstad about the title though, it seems neither of them was chosen by anyone who'd actually seen the film. Maybe "Small Village of the Dead" would be more apt.

Also it's from a practically perfect print and the audio/video quality is excellent. Highly recommended.

you could not ask for a better horror film.

...would be a better name. Excellent horror movie. Hadn't seen it for decades. Very stylized. Highly recommended.

Christopher Lee is always good, even if the film he is in is not so hot.
In this film the other actors are really not film actors. They might be good at the local play house.
Some people really like this type of movie and I can see it having a cult following. But not me.